The venous plexus of hypoglossal canal is a small
venous plexus
In vertebrates, a venous plexus is a normal congregation anywhere in the body of multiple veins.
A list of venous plexuses:
* Basilar plexus
* Batson venous plexus
* Epidural venous plexus
* External vertebral venous plexuses
* Internal ve ...
surrounding the
hypoglossal nerve (cranial nerve XII) as it passes through the
hypoglossal canal
The hypoglossal canal is a foramen in the occipital bone of the skull. It is hidden medially and superiorly to each occipital condyle. It transmits the hypoglossal nerve.
Structure
The hypoglossal canal lies in the epiphyseal junction between ...
.
The plexus connects with the
occipital sinus
The occipital sinus is the smallest of the dural venous sinuses. It is usually unpaired, and is sometimes altogether absent. It is situated in the attached margin of the falx cerebelli. It commences near the foramen magnum, and ends by draining in ...
(intercranially),
inferior petrosal sinus
The inferior petrosal sinuses are two small sinuses situated on the inferior border of the petrous part of the temporal bone, one on each side. Each inferior petrosal sinus drains the cavernous sinus into the internal jugular vein.
Structure
Th ...
(intercranially),
internal jugular vein
The internal jugular vein is a paired jugular vein that collects blood from the brain and the superficial parts of the face and neck. This vein runs in the carotid sheath with the common carotid artery and vagus nerve.
It begins in the posteri ...
(extracranially),
condylar vein, and paravertebral venous plexus.
Anatomy
Anatomical studies have demonstrated that the venous plexus is the dominant structure of the hypoglossal canal. Research has shown that the size of the hypoglossal canal varies in relation to an individual's skull size, suggesting that the venous plexus functions as an essential
emissary veinous structure.
Variation
Occasionally, it may be a single vein rather than a venous plexus.
Clinical significance
A
case report
In medicine, a case report is a detailed report of the symptoms, signs, diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up of an individual patient. Case reports may contain a demographic profile of the patient, but usually describe an unusual or novel occurrenc ...
described an instance of a dilated venous plexus of hypoglossal canal portruding into the
cerebellomedullary cistern and thus mimicking a pathological mass upon MRI imaging.
Notes
References
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